🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Obidient Movement condemns court order to deregister five political parties
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Obidient Movement has criticized a Federal High Court order instructing the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to deregister five political parties, calling the decision a threat to political inclusion and democratic participation in Nigeria. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, issued the order on Monday, directing INEC to delist the African Democratic Congress, Accord Party, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, and Zenith Labour Party. This action was based on their alleged failure to meet constitutional performance thresholds under Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022. The National Forum of Former Legislators filed the suit, seeking a determination on whether INEC is constitutionally obligated to deregister parties that do not meet electoral benchmarks, such as winning at least 25 percent of votes in any state in a presidential election or securing at least one elective office. In a statement released on Tuesday and signed by its National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, the Obidient Movement expressed concern about the ruling's implications for Nigeria's democratic landscape. The group, which aligns with the political philosophy of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi, warned that reducing the number of political platforms available to citizens would undermine democratic choice and participation. It emphasized that democracy must remain open and competitive, with inclusiveness being centra
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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Must ReadThe Kogi State Government has confirmed the death of Kachala Ibrahim Batijo, a bandit leader allegedly responsible for a recent attack on a school in Iluke Bunu, Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, stated on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily that Batijo was killed during a coordinated security operation. The commissioner linked Batijo to the Iluke Bunu school attack, which resulted in three fatalities, including a vice principal and a six-year-old child. Fanwo also indicated that Batijo had been planning to abduct students from multiple schools across Kogi State. He described the operation as a significant breakthrough, noting that intelligence gathering and the relocation of students helped thwart earlier abduction attempts. During the June 10 attack, approximately 100 terrorists on 40 motorcycles attempted to abduct students from the school, but the effort was foiled by local security architecture supported by the military, DSS, and police. Fanwo reported that 15 to 20 bodies of terrorists were found, and more were neutralized during the exhumation of Batijo's body for further examination. Security agencies are confident in Batijo's identity, but further verification is ongoing.
The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that three security operatives were killed in an attack on the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies NIPSS, Kuru, in the early hours of Monday, June 16, 2026. According to a statement by SP Alfred Alabo, the state Police Public Relations Officer, security reinforcements have been deployed, and patrols intensified around the facility by Commissioner of Police, CP Bassey Ewah. The police assured residents that calm has returned to the area and normal activities have resumed. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. NIPSS Kuru is Nigeria’s premier policy training institution for senior public officials, and this attack marks one of the most serious security breaches at the facility in recent years.